The Chosen and Friends: God With UsSample

He Knows It All
From Joanna Breault, Prison Fellowship

I love The Chosen’s interpretation of this scene, because it perfectly captures a truth that’s precious to us at Prison Fellowship: Jesus, the Son, knows us completely, and He wants us anyway. It means, of course, that God, the Father, knows and wants us.

Matthew was startled and unsure when Jesus called his name. But when Jesus said, “Matthew, son of Alphaeus,” something shifted. Because of his job as a tax collector, Matthew must have been used to labels like “traitor,” “thief,” and even “scum.” He probably heard them so often he had started to believe them. But Jesus created Matthew, and He knew and declared his truest identity—that of a son. And not just a child of Alphaeus. Of God.

The objections from Simon are almost instantaneous: “What are you doing? Do you have any idea what that guy’s done? Do you even know him?” And Jesus’ answer was simple: “Yes.”

At Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit equipping the church to serve currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families, stories like this are familiar. I think of Quovadis Marshall, a gang member and teenaged father who was incarcerated at age 19 for robbing a store. While Quovadis was in prison, the love of Jesus cut through the noise of his mistakes and shame. Jesus knew exactly who Quovadis was and what he had done, and He called him by name. Today, Quovadis is a husband, father, and pastor, leading thousands to know and love Jesus better.

God knows us more deeply than anyone else ever could. He knows everything we’ve ever done. And yet He calls us. He reminds us of who we are, and He wants us to come follow Him anyway. Sin did not disqualify Matthew, and it didn’t disqualify Quovadis.

Are you holding back because you’re letting your mistakes define you? The Father is calling you by name as his son or daughter—follow Him and find true freedom.

Watch the full story of Quovadis’ redemption and read more stories of transformation on our website!

About The Author
Founded in 1976, Prison Fellowship®is the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit equipping the Church to serve currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families, and to advocate for justice and human dignity both inside and outside of prison. Learn more at prisonfellowship.org.